ISLE OF SKYE TOURIST BOARD
UNEXPECTED ARCHIVES DISCOVERY THE DONNIE MACLEOD YEARS: 1986 During a routine clear-out of the Tourist Board archives, staff discovered a cardboard box containing three expired ferry timetables, a receipt for a second-hand generator, a photograph of a sheep attending a wedding and something considerably more troubling. Donnie MacLeod’s debut album. “HIGHLAND HEART” Released in 1986 under the stage name DONNIE FROM SKYE, the album appears to document a brief but ambitious attempt to establish Donnie as the Highlands’ answer to Bryan Adams. With a Ford Capri. And rather more hair. The twelve-track LP features several apparently original compositions, including: 🎵 Sheena of the Single Track Heart 🎵 Morag in Moonboots 🎵 Catriona, Don’t Slam the Capri Door 🎵 Love Me Like the Last Ferry 🎵 Saturday Night in Somerled Square 🎵 You’ll Have Had Your Love Donnie maintains that the album was well received locally and that there was considerable interest from the mainland. Further questioning established that his auntie in Dingwall had asked for a copy. He also insists that the photograph on the album cover was taken before his perm had properly settled. Murdo was shown the sleeve shortly after lunch. He stared at it for several seconds before removing his glasses, gripping the edge of the table and making a noise we initially thought was a problem with the kettle. He then spent fourteen minutes laughing without producing a single intelligible word. Every time he managed to recover, someone mentioned “Morag in Moonboots” and we had to start all over again. Donnie has since requested that the album be returned to the archives on the grounds that it represents “a very private chapter in Highland musical history”. Unfortunately, Murdo has taken the album home. We are now appealing to residents of Portree and the surrounding area. Does anyone remember Donnie’s brief musical career? Did anyone attend a performance? More importantly, does anyone still have an original copy of the LP? We understand a small number may have been sold at the Portree Mart, with additional copies distributed through informal arrangements involving livestock. Donnie says there were at least 200 pressed. After regaining composure, Murdo says he remembers possibly four.